Raccoon butterflyfish, also know as Chaetodon lunula, is a hardy species and is an attractive addition to a fish only marine tank.
Raccoon butterflyfish, also called as crescent-masked butterflyfish, lunule butterflyfish, halfmoon butterflyfish, moon butterflyfish, raccoon butterfly, raccoon coralfish, redstriped butterflyfish and its scientific name Chaetodon lunula is a hardy species and is an attractive addition to a fish only marine tank.
RACCOON BUTTERFLYFISH DESCRIPTION:
Raccoon butterflyfish is distributed throughout most of the Indo-Pacific region and in the southeast Atlantic. It is found in lagoons and on outer reefs where it is most commonly observed in rocky areas, either slopes or in the inter-tidal zone at depths of 1-60 meters.
Chaetodon lunula can grow up to 20 cm in length with a lifespan of up to 9 years. The predominant colour is yellow with black with white crescent bands over the face and eyes. Immediately behind each eye is a thick white band. Juvenile fish lack the black band that extends from the operculum to the anterior part of the dorsal fin.
Chaetodon fasciatus (Red Sea raccoon butterflyfish) is a similar species from the Red Sea. In Florida, a similar species is the reef butterflyfish (Chaetodon sedentarius), which lacks white markings on head and wide dark wedge on rear dorsal and body.
They are most often seen singly, periodically in pairs, only occasionally in groups. Unless you purchase or capture them together, though, they are best kept one to a tank. Likewise, other butterflyfish family members can butt heads should they be closely matched size-wise or if the system is crowded.
RACCOON BUTTERFLYFISH CARE:
Raccoon butterflyfish are bold, hardy, moderately aggressive and are compatible with other peaceful marine fish. They can be kept with other varieties of butterfly fish in a community tank of at least 70 gallons with water temperature of 24-26 °C, pH level of 8.0-8.4 and specific gravity of 1.020-1.025. Provide a larger tank if keeping more than one adult. They are not suitable for a reef tank as they will eat invertebrates and is deemed unsafe with corals. When frightened at night, their body turns dark in colour.
Provide adequate shelter and enough swimming room for these active fish and ensure they are provided with highly oxygenated water. Keep them in an established tank with an efficient filtration system and make sure the water conditions are kept stable.
They are primarily nocturnal and omnivorous feeders. Give a varied diet of live brine shrimp, frozen mysis, fresh chopped meaty foods and occasionally live black worms and nori. This species are natural predators of Aiptasia anemones and will keep your tank free of these pests. Initially, they are finicky feeders; therefore provide them with live brine shrimp or black worms if possible. They may not feed for the first 2-3 days but will resume feeding once acclimatized.
Chaetodon lunula are prone to saltwater ich (Cryptocaryon Irritans), so it is advisable to quarantine them for a few weeks before placing them in the main system. This allows for a copper sulphate treatment to be used if needed without affecting invertebrates and without infecting other fish in the main system.
RACCOON BUTTERFLYFISH SPAWNING:
Male and females are indistinguishable sexually. In the wild, butterfly fishes are egg-scatterers, meaning they release and fertilize their gametes into the surface currents that are influenced by the moon and the tides.
Larval young develop through a strange armored “tholichthys” stage as pelagic plankton, settling down (hopefully) as miniature adults. All specimens offered for sale are wild-caught.
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